Print system, print server, control method thereof, and program

ABSTRACT

A client terminal transmits a request to a printing apparatus for a registration web page for registering, in a print server, a printing apparatus used in a print service provided by the print server. The printing apparatus collects configuration information of the printing apparatus in response to reception of the request, and creates link information which contains the collected configuration information and is used to access the print server. The printing apparatus then generates a registration web page containing the created link information, and transmits it to the client terminal. The print server receives the configuration information of the printing apparatus transmitted from the client terminal via the registration web page transmitted to the client terminal. The print server creates printing apparatus information which associates the configuration information with user information of the user of the client terminal, and manages it in a storage medium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a print system which is configured byconnecting a client terminal, print server, and printing apparatus to anetwork and manages printing from the client terminal, a print server, acontrol method thereof, and a program.

2. Description of the Related Art

In an improved network environment including a low communication costthanks to broadband communication, SaaS (Software as a Service), whichprovides a software function as a service via the Internet, isincreasingly becoming popular. SaaS has become a business model forproviding a software function as a “service” via the Internet andgaining an income as a monthly usage fee, unlike conventional“licensing” of selling packet software and earning an income. SaaS isone field of “Cloud Computing”.

Even a print system which has conventionally managed printers and printjobs on a network in a local area such as an office needs to cope withSaaS as an Internet print service.

In addition to SaaS, a thin client having only a Web browser (clientwhich uses only server-side programs and does not use client-sideprograms) is expected to prevail. According to SaaS, software such as anapplication need not be installed in a terminal such as a personalcomputer functioning as a client. The introduction of a thin client istherefore very advantageous to users, considering reduction of themanagement cost of software distributed to a client and a measureagainst leakage of information because no data is saved in a client. Itis also a challenge for print systems to deal with SaaS thin clients.

Printers managed by a print system generally differ from each other infunctions and specifications, so the user needs to registerconfiguration information of a printer in the server (print server) ofthe print system in advance. Based on the registered configurationinformation, the print server provides a user interface for settingprint attributes by the user in printing, a function of tracking a printjob till the completion of printing, and the like.

As a method of registering printer configuration information by a user,he generally directly inputs it to a user interface provided by a printsystem to register a printer. According to this method, the user needsto grasp all pieces of configuration information of a printer. Whenthere are many configuration information items to be input, the input iscumbersome. Hence, a terminal manipulated by the user is sometimesprovided with a program for automating registration of printerconfiguration information. This program provides a function of acquiringconfiguration information from a printer and registering it in the printserver.

There is proposed a method of accessing a printer directly by a printserver and acquiring printer configuration information (see, e.g.,Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-303077). There is also proposed amethod of registering configuration information in a print server by aprinter itself (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-280856).

However, considering a form in which services are provided via theInternet, a problem arises when applying the conventional technique inthe method of registering printer configuration information in a printsystem.

For example, when a program running on a terminal which designatesregistration of printer configuration information acquires printerconfiguration information and registers it in a print server, softwareother than a Web browser does not run on a thin client terminal in thethin client environment. Thus, software on the thin client terminalcannot acquire printer configuration information to register it in theprint server.

When directly acquiring printer configuration information from a printserver, the print server needs to access the printer. In general, afirewall does not permit access to a local area printer from theInternet (outside the local area), so it may be impossible to acquireprinter configuration information.

When providing a service via the Internet, it is essential to manageusers for security. More specifically, when receiving a service providedby a print system, the user enters his user ID and password to a logindialog (screen) provided by the print system, and the print systemauthenticates him. Also when registering printer configurationinformation, the print system recognizes that an authenticated user isto register it, and permits him to use the printer. The user can use theprinter immediately after registering the printer configurationinformation.

When the printer directly registers its configuration information in theprint server, the print server cannot recognize a user who hasregistered it. The print server separately requires a procedure topermit the user to use the registered printer, impairing userfriendliness. As another method, it is also possible to allow the userto enter authentication information such as the user ID and password toa printer, which will then register configuration information in theprint server together with the entered authentication information.However, it leads to poor security to transfer authenticationinformation such as the user ID and password temporarily to the printerand then to the print server in order to log in to the print system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to solve the above-describedproblems. The present invention provides a print system, a print server,a control method thereof, and a program capable of easily, safelyregistering printer configuration information in a service provider inan environment in which a service for providing the printing function isutilized.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a print systemwhich is configured by connecting a client terminal, a print server, anda printing apparatus to a network and manages printing from the clientterminal, the client terminal comprises: a request transmission unitadapted to transmit a request to the printing apparatus for aregistration web page for registering, in the print server, a printingapparatus used in a print service provided by the print server, theprinting apparatus comprises: a collection unit adapted to collectconfiguration information of the printing apparatus in response toreception of the request from the client terminal; a creation unitadapted to create link information which contains the configurationinformation collected by the collection unit and is used to access theprint server; and a transmission unit adapted to generate theregistration web page containing the link information created by thecreation unit and transmit the registration web page to the clientterminal, and the print server comprises: a reception unit adapted toreceive the configuration information of the printing apparatustransmitted from the client terminal via the registration web pagetransmitted to the client terminal; and a printing apparatus managementunit adapted to create printing apparatus information which associatesthe configuration information received by the reception unit with userinformation of a user of the client terminal, and manage the printingapparatus information in a storage medium.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a print serverwhich is connected to a client terminal and a printing apparatus via anetwork and manages printing from the client terminal, the print servercomprises: a reception unit adapted to receive configuration informationof the printing apparatus transmitted from the client terminal via aregistration web page which is transmitted from the printing apparatusto the client terminal to register, in the print server, a printingapparatus used in a print service provided by the print server; anauthentication unit adapted to authenticate a user of the clientterminal; and a printing apparatus management unit adapted to createprinting apparatus information which associates the configurationinformation received by the reception unit with user information of auser successfully authenticated by the authentication unit, and managethe printing apparatus information in a storage medium.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a method ofcontrolling a print server which is connected to a client terminal and aprinting apparatus via a network and manages printing from the clientterminal, the method comprises: receiving configuration information ofthe printing apparatus transmitted from the client terminal via aregistration web page which is transmitted from the printing apparatusto the client terminal to register, in the print server, a printingapparatus used in a print service provided by the print server;authenticating a user of the client terminal; and creating printingapparatus information which associates the configuration informationreceived in the receiving step with user information of a usersuccessfully authenticated in the authenticating step, thereby managingthe printing apparatus information in a storage medium.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a program,which is stored in a storage medium, for causing a computer to control aprint server which is connected to a client terminal and a printingapparatus via a network and manages printing from the client terminal,the program causes the computer to execute receiving configurationinformation of the printing apparatus transmitted from the clientterminal via a registration web page which is transmitted from theprinting apparatus to the client terminal to register, in the printserver, a printing apparatus used in a print service provided by theprint server, authenticating a user of the client terminal, and creatingprinting apparatus information which associates the configurationinformation received in the receiving step with user information of auser successfully authenticated in the authenticating step, therebymanaging the printing apparatus information in a storage medium.

Further features of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printsystem according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the basic hardware configuration of aprint server according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the basic hardware configuration of aclient terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the basic hardware configuration of aprinting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangements of theprint server, client terminal, and printing apparatus in the printsystem according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a chart showing the sequence of processing until the printingapparatus is registered in the print server in accordance with aninstruction from the client terminal according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the sequence of processing by the printingapparatus in printer registration processing of FIG. 6 according to theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the sequence of processing by the printserver in the printer registration processing of FIG. 6 according to theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the sequence of processing by the printserver in the printer registration processing of FIG. 6 according to theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a view showing the dialog (screen) of a printer registrationpage to a print service according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a view showing the dialog (screen) of a user authenticationpage to the print service according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a view showing the dialog (screen) of a printer registrationpage for registering a printer in the print service according to theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a view showing printer information registered in the printservice according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the sequence of processing by the printserver until a print setting page (print setting dialog (screen)) isdisplayed when printing by a printer registered in the print serviceaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a view showing the dialog (screen) of a print data list pagefor selecting print data stored in the print service according to theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a view showing the dialog (screen) of a printer selectionpage for selecting a printer to execute printing of print data accordingto the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a view showing the dialog (screen) of a print setting pagefor setting a print attribute in printing according to the embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the sequence of processing by the printserver in printer deletion processing according to the embodiment of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment(s) of the present invention will now be described indetail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that therelative arrangement of the components, the numerical expressions andnumerical values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scopeof the present invention unless it is specifically stated otherwise.

A print system will be described as a premise of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printsystem according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a print service site 101 provides a print servicevia the Internet. A print server 104 configures (implements) the printservice site 101. A local area 102 is, for example, an office. Clientterminals 105 and printing apparatuses 106 in the local area 102 areconnected to each other via an intranet 107. FIG. 1 shows only twoclient terminals 105 and two printing apparatuses 106 for illustrativeconvenience, but n client terminals 105 and n printing apparatuses 106are also assumed to be connected. The print service site 101 and localarea 102 are connected via the Internet 103.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the basic hardware configuration ofthe print server according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The print server 104 includes a CPU 201, a RAM 202, a ROM 203, acommunication interface 204, a video interface 205, a keyboard 206 andmouse 207 functioning as an input unit, a hard disk 208, and a CD-ROMdrive 209. These building components of the print server 104 areconnected to each other via a system bus 210. The system bus 210 isformed from, for example, a PCI bus, AGP bus, or memory bus.

Note that FIG. 2 does not illustrate a connection chip between buses, akeyboard interface, and an input/output interface such as a so-calledSCSI or ATAPI interface.

The CPU 201 performs various calculations such as four arithmeticoperations and comparison operation, and hardware control based on anoperating system (OS) program and application programs. The RAM 202stores an operating system program, application programs, and the likeread out from the hard disk 208 and a storage medium such as a CD-ROM orCD-R mounted on the CD-ROM drive 209. The CPU 201 executes theseprograms.

The ROM 203 stores a so-called BIOS and the like which controlinput/output of data to/from the hard disk 208 in cooperation with theoperating system. The communication interface 204 communicates with anexternal device connected via a network in cooperation with thecommunication program of the operating system controlled by the CPU 201.The video interface 205 generates an image signal to be output to adisplay device. The keyboard 206 and mouse 207 are used to input aninstruction to the print server 104.

The hard disk 208 stores an OS and application programs (e.g., a printsystem program for practicing the present invention).

The CD-ROM drive 209 is used to mount a storage medium such as a CD-ROM,CD-R, or CD-R/W and install an application program in the hard disk 208.Instead of the CD-ROM drive, a drive for another type of storage mediumis also available, including a CD-R drive, CD-R/W drive, or DVD drive.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the basic hardware configuration ofthe client terminal according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

The client terminal 105 includes a CPU 301, a RAM 302, a ROM 303, acommunication interface 304, a video interface 305, and a keyboard 306and mouse 307 serving as an input unit. These building components of theclient terminal 105 are connected to each other via a system bus 308.The system bus 308 is formed from, for example, a PCI bus, AGP bus, ormemory bus.

Note that FIG. 3 does not illustrate a connection chip between buses, akeyboard interface, and an input/output interface such as a so-calledSCSI or ATAPI interface.

The CPU 301 performs various calculations such as four arithmeticoperations and comparison operation, and hardware control based on anoperating system (OS) program and application programs.

The ROM 303 stores an operating system, Web browser program, and thelike. The communication interface 304 communicates with an externaldevice connected via a network in cooperation with the communicationprogram of the operating system controlled by the CPU 301. The RAM 302stores data and the like downloaded via the communication interface 304.The video interface 305 generates an image signal to be output to adisplay device. The keyboard 306 and mouse 307 are used to input aninstruction to the client terminal 105.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the basic hardware configuration ofthe printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

The printing apparatus 106 includes a CPU 401, RAM 402, ROM 403,communication interface 404, printer engine 405, hard disk 406, andoperation panel 407. These building components of the printing apparatus106 are connected to each other via a system bus 408.

By using the RAM 402 as a work memory, the CPU 401 executes softwarestored in the hard disk 406. The CPU 401 sets the operation of theprinting apparatus 106 in accordance with a user instruction input fromthe operation panel 407. The CPU 401 generates image data based on printdata such as PDL data input from an external device via thecommunication interface 404, and supplies the image data to the printerengine 405, thereby printing. The ROM 403 stores a so-called BIOS andthe like which control input/output of data to/from the hard disk 406.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangements of theprint server, client terminal, and printing apparatus in the printsystem according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The print server 104 includes a Web page generation unit 503 whichgenerates a Web page for responding to a request from the clientterminal 105. The Web page generation unit 503 generates a variety ofoperation screens for providing the print service to the client terminal105. These operation screens are, for example, a printing apparatus listincluding a list of printing apparatuses the use of which is permittedto a user and a list of printing apparatuses capable of printing targetprint data, and a print setting dialog (screen) for printing apparatusesregistered in a client terminal. That is, the Web page generation unit503 has a printing apparatus list creation function and print settingdialog (screen) creation function.

The print server 104 also includes a user information management unit502 which manages user information, and a user authentication unit 501which performs user authentication based on user information managed bythe user information management unit 502.

The print server 104 includes a printer information management unit 504which creates and manages printer information (printing apparatusinformation) that associates user information of a user authenticated bythe user authentication unit 501 with configuration information of theprinting apparatus 106 received from the client terminal. That is, theprint server 104 has a printing apparatus management function ofmanaging printing apparatus information serving as printer information.

Further, the print server 104 includes a print data acquisition unit 505which acquires print data from an external service via the communicationinterface 304, and a print data storage unit 507 which stores theacquired print data. The print server 104 also includes a print dataconversion unit 506 which, if necessary, converts acquired print datainto a format suited to the printing apparatus 106.

The client terminal 105 includes a Web browser 508 which transmits arequest to the print server 104 or printing apparatus 106 via thecommunication interface 304 and displays a Web page sent back as aresponse. That is, the client terminal has a request transmissionfunction and Web page browsing function.

The printing apparatus 106 includes a Web page generation unit 509 whichgenerates a Web page to respond to a request from the client terminal105, and a configuration information collection unit 510 which collectsconfiguration information of the printing apparatus 106. The printingapparatus 106 also includes a print data acquisition unit 511 whichdownloads print data from the print server 104 via the communicationinterface 404, and a printing unit 512 which prints by supplying theacquired print data to the printer engine 405.

FIG. 6 is a chart showing the sequence of processing until the printingapparatus is registered in the print server in accordance with aninstruction from the client terminal according to the embodiment of thepresent invention.

The Web browser 508 of the client terminal 105 accepts a userinstruction and transmits a request to the printing apparatus 106 for aprinter registration page (registration dialog (screen)) to the printservice (S601).

Upon receiving the printer registration page request, the printingapparatus 106 causes the Web page generation unit 509 to generate theURL of the printer registration page to the print server in whichconfiguration information of the printing apparatus 106 collected by theconfiguration information collection unit 510 is set as a parameter. Anexample of this URL is a URL 1003 in FIG. 10. The printing apparatus 106sends back, to the client terminal 105, a Web page, for example, aprinter registration page 1001 in FIG. 10 in which the URL is embeddedas, e.g., a hyperlink 1002 in FIG. 10 (S602).

The configuration information of the printing apparatus 106 contains,for example, a device address, a device model, the presence/absence of adouble-sided printing function, a paper feed cassette list, thepresence/absence of a box storage function, and that of a PDF printingfunction.

The Web browser 508 of the client terminal 105 displays the Web page(printer registration page) sent back from the printing apparatus 106.The Web browser 508 of the client terminal 105 accepts a userinstruction via the Web page and then transmits a request to the printserver 104 for a Web page indicated by the URL of the printerregistration page that is set in the hyperlink (S603). This userinstruction is, for example, clicking of the hyperlink of the Web page.

Upon receiving the Web page request, the Web page generation unit 503 ofthe print server 104 determines that the request has not come from anauthenticated user, and sends back a redirect request as a response for,for example, a user authentication page 1101 in FIG. 11 (S604).

Upon receiving the redirect request as a response, the Web browser 508of the client terminal 105 transmits a request to the print server 104for a user authentication page at the redirect destination (S605).

Upon receiving the user authentication page request, the Web pagegeneration unit 503 of the print server 104 sends back a userauthentication page to the client terminal 105 (S606).

The Web browser 508 of the client terminal 105 displays the userauthentication page sent back from the print server 104. The Web browser508 of the client terminal 105 accepts a user instruction via the userauthentication page and transmits a user authentication request to theprint server 104 (S607). This user instruction is, for example, input ofa user name and password and clicking of a login button. The userauthentication request contains the input user name and password.

Upon receiving the user authentication request, the print server 104causes the user authentication unit 501 to execute user authenticationbased on user information managed by the user information managementunit 502. If the authentication is successful, the print server 104causes the Web page generation unit 503 to generate, for example, aprinter registration page 1201 in FIG. 12, the request of which has beenaccepted in S603. The print server 104 transmits the printerregistration page as a response to the client terminal 105 (S608).

The Web browser 508 of the client terminal 105 displays the printerregistration page sent back from the print server 104. The Web browser508 of the client terminal 105 accepts a user instruction (input of aprinter name and clicking of an execution button) via the printerregistration page, and transmits a printer registration request to theprint server 104 (S609).

Upon receiving the printer registration request, the print server 104causes the printer information management unit 504 to perform printerregistration processing. The print server 104 causes the Web pagegeneration unit 503 to generate a Web page in which a message that theprinter has been registered successfully is embedded. The print server104 sends back the Web page as a response to the client terminal 105(S610).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the sequence of processing by the printingapparatus in the printer registration processing of FIG. 6 according tothe embodiment of the present invention.

In step S701, the printing apparatus 106 receives a request from theclient terminal 105 for a printer registration page to the printservice. In step S702, the configuration information collection unit 510acquires configuration information of the printing apparatus 106.

In step S703, the Web page generation unit 509 creates link informationserving as the URL 1003 (FIG. 10) of the printer registration page tothe print server in which the acquired configuration information is setas a parameter. In step S704, the printing apparatus 106 transmits, tothe client terminal 105, the Web page, that is, printer registrationpage 1001 in FIG. 10 in which the generated URL is embedded as thehyperlink 1002 in FIG. 10. After that, the process ends.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are flowcharts showing the sequence of processing by theprint server in the printer registration processing of FIG. 6 accordingto the embodiment of the present invention.

In step S801, the print server 104 receives a request from the clientterminal 105 for a printer registration page. In step S802, the Web pagegeneration unit 503 determines whether the request has come from anauthenticated user.

If the Web page generation unit 503 determines that the request has comefrom an authenticated user (YES in step S802), the process advances tostep S810. If the Web page generation unit 503 determines that therequest has not come from an authenticated user (NO in step S802), itcreates a redirect request for the user authentication page 1101 in FIG.11 in step S803. In step S804, the print server 104 transmits theredirect request to the client terminal 105.

In step S805, the Web page generation unit 503 receives a request fromthe client terminal 105 for the user authentication page. In step S806,the Web page generation unit 503 transmits the user authentication pageto the client terminal 105.

In step S807, the print server 104 receives a user authenticationrequest from the client terminal 105. Then, the user authentication unit501 executes user authentication based on user information managed bythe user information management unit 502. By performing the userauthentication, registration of a printer by a user who is not managedin the print service can be prevented.

In step S808, the user authentication unit 501 determines whether theuser authentication is successful. If the user authentication unit 501determines that the user authentication has failed (NO in step S808),the process advances to step S809. In step S809, the Web page generationunit 503 generates a Web page in which a message (authentication failuremessage) that the authentication has failed is embedded. The Web pagegeneration unit 503 transmits the Web page to the client terminal 105,and then the process returns to step S807.

If the user authentication unit 501 determines that the userauthentication is successful (YES in step S808), the process advances tostep S810. In step S810, the Web page generation unit 503 creates aprinter registration page 1201 in FIG. 12 which has been requested instep S801 and reflects the parameter of configuration information set inthe URL. The Web page generation unit 503 transmits the printerregistration page to the client terminal 105.

In step S811, the print server 104 receives a printer registrationrequest from the client terminal 105. In step S812, the printerinformation management unit 504 determines whether printer informationhas already been registered.

If the printer information management unit 504 determines that noprinter information has been registered yet (NO in step S812), theprocess advances to step S815. In step S815, the printer informationmanagement unit 504 creates printer information (FIG. 13) based on theconfiguration information reflected in the printer registration page.The printer information management unit 504 adds the user ID of the userauthenticated in step S807 to a permitted user list in the createdprinter information. Accordingly, the printer information is created asprinting apparatus information which associates the user ID serving asuser information with the configuration information of the printingapparatus.

In step S817, the Web page generation unit 503 generates a Web page inwhich a message (printer registration completion message) thatregistration of the printer is complete is embedded. The Web pagegeneration unit 503 transmits the Web page to the client terminal 105,and then the process ends.

If the printer information management unit 504 determines that printerinformation has already been registered (YES in step S812), the processadvances to step S813. In step S813, the printer information managementunit 504 confirms the permitted user list in the printer information,and determines whether the user ID of the user authenticated in stepS807 exists in the list. That is, the printer information managementunit 504 determines whether the user has been permitted. If the printerinformation management unit 504 determines that this user ID does notexist in the list (NO in step S813), the process advances to step S816.

If the printer information management unit 504 determines that this userID exists in the list (YES in step S813), the process advances to stepS814. In step S814, the Web page generation unit 503 generates a Webpage in which a message (printer registration message) that the printerhas already been registered is embedded. The Web page generation unit503 transmits the Web page to the client terminal 105, and then theprocess ends.

FIG. 10 is a view showing the dialog (screen) of the printerregistration page to the print service according to the embodiment ofthe present invention.

In step S704 of FIG. 7, the Web page generation unit 509 of the printingapparatus 106 creates the printer registration page 1001 to the printservice and transmits it to the client terminal 105.

In the printer registration page 1001, the URL 1003 is an example of theURL of the printer registration page to the print service. As aparameter, printer configuration information collected by theconfiguration information collection unit 510 is set. The URL 1003 isembedded as the hyperlink 1002 in the printer registration page 1001 tothe printer service. The user clicks the hyperlink 1002 on the Webbrowser 508 of the client terminal 105, thereby accessing the printserver 104.

In the present invention, the user first accesses, via the Web browser508, the printer registration page 1001 to the print service provided bythe printing apparatus 106. As a method of accessing the printerregistration page 1001 by the user, for example, the printeradministrator of the local area mails the URL of the printerregistration page. Alternatively, printer URLs may be listed on anin-house homepage accessible by the user.

FIG. 11 is a view showing the dialog (screen) of the user authenticationpage to the print service according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

In step S806 of FIG. 8, the Web page generation unit 503 of the printserver 104 transmits the user authentication page 1101 to the clientterminal 105. The user enters, in input fields 1102 and 1103, the username and password of an account registered in advance in the printservice. Then, the user clicks a login button 1104, thereby transmittinga user authentication request to the print server 104. The userauthentication request contains the input user name and password.

FIG. 12 is a view showing the dialog (screen) of the printerregistration page for registering a printer in the print serviceaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

In step S810 of FIG. 9, the Web page generation unit 503 of the printserver 104 creates the printer registration page 1201 and transmits itto the client terminal 105.

The printer registration page 1201 reflects printer configurationinformation set as a parameter in the URL 1003. The user enters anarbitrary printer name in an input field 1203 and clicks an executionbutton 1202, thereby transmitting a printer registration request to theprint server 104.

FIG. 13 is a view showing printer information registered in the printservice according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The printer information management unit 504 of the print server 104holds the printer information. A printer list is made up of pieces ofprinter information. The printer information is formed fromconfiguration information (e.g., device address, device model, thepresence/absence of a double-sided printing function, paper feedcassette list, the presence/absence of a box storage function, and thatof a PDF printing function), and a permitted user list. The permitteduser list includes a plurality of user IDs. In step S815 of FIG. 9, theprinter information management unit 504 creates the printer informationand adds it to the printer list.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the sequence of processing by the printserver until a print setting page (print setting dialog (screen)) isdisplayed when printing by a printer registered in the print serviceaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

Print data to be printed by the user is assumed to have been downloadedby the print data acquisition unit 505 of the print server 104 andstored in the print data storage unit 507.

In response to a user instruction, the Web browser 508 of the clientterminal 105 transmits a request to the print server 104 for the userauthentication page 1101 in FIG. 11.

In step S1401, the Web page generation unit 503 receives the userauthentication page request from the client terminal 105. In step S1402,the Web page generation unit 503 transmits the user authentication pageto the client terminal 105.

In step S1403, the print server 104 receives a user authenticationrequest from the client terminal 105. Then, the user authentication unit501 executes user authentication based on user information managed bythe user information management unit 502. By performing the userauthentication, printing by a user who is not managed in the printservice can be prevented.

In step S1404, the user authentication unit 501 determines whether theuser authentication is successful. If the user authentication unit 501determines that the user authentication has failed (NO in step S1404),the process advances to step S1405. In step S1405, the Web pagegeneration unit 503 generates a Web page in which a message(authentication failure message) that the authentication has failed isembedded. The Web page generation unit 503 transmits the Web page to theclient terminal 105, and then the process returns to step S1403.

If the user authentication unit 501 determines that the userauthentication is successful (YES in step S1404), the process advancesto step S1406. In step S1406, the Web page generation unit 503 creates aprint data list page 1501 in FIG. 15, and transmits it to the clientterminal 105. The print data list page represents print data of the userauthenticated in step S1403 that is stored in the print data storageunit 507.

In step S1407, the print server 104 receives a print request for printdata contained in the print data list page transmitted in step S1406. Instep S1408, the printer information management unit 504 searches for aprinter the use of which by the user authenticated in step S1403 ispermitted and has a function of printing selected print data. Thefunction of printing selected print data is, for example, the PDFprinting function. The Web page generation unit 503 creates a printerlist page, for example, printer selection page 1601 in FIG. 16containing a list of printers having this function. In step S1409, theWeb page generation unit 503 transmits the printer list page to theclient terminal 105.

In this fashion, a printer that can be used by a user is searched forand a printer list page is created. This can prevent a print instructionto an unpermitted printer. Also, a printer having a function of printingselected print data (i.e., capable of printing the print data) issearched for and a printer list page is created. This can prevent aprint instruction to a printer incapable of printing selected printdata.

In step S1410, the print server 104 receives a printer selection requestfrom the client terminal 105. Then, the Web page generation unit 503creates a print setting page 1701 in FIG. 17 which reflects printerinformation of the selected printer. In step S1411, the Web pagegeneration unit 503 transmits the print setting page to the clientterminal 105.

As the reflected printer information, for example, when the printer hasthe double-sided printing function, double-sided printing is selectableas a printing method. When the printer does not have the box storagefunction, an item for designating box storage is not displayed. Further,only a cassette in the paper feed cassette list is selectable as a paperfeed unit. By creating a print setting page reflecting the printerinformation, setting of a print attribute unavailable in a selectedprinter can be prevented.

FIG. 15 is a view showing the dialog (screen) of the print data listpage for selecting print data stored in the print service according tothe embodiment of the present invention.

In step S1406 of FIG. 14, the Web page generation unit 503 creates theprint data list page 1501 based on print data of a user that is storedin the print data storage unit 507.

A search button 1502 is used to search for print data. A print button1503 is used to designate printing of selected target print data. Adelete button 1504 is used to delete registered printer information. Apreview button 1505 is used to display the print preview of selectedtarget print data.

An update button 1506 is used to update the contents of a print datalist 1509. A button 1507 is used to select all displayed print data. Abutton 1508 is used to cancel selection of all displayed print data.

The user selects target print data from the displayed print data list1509 and clicks the print button 1503, thereby transmitting a printrequest for the print data to the print server 104.

FIG. 16 is a view showing the dialog (screen) of the printer selectionpage for selecting a printer to execute printing of print data accordingto the embodiment of the present invention.

A printer selection page 1601 appears when the user clicks the printbutton 1503 on the print data list page 1501 in FIG. 15. In step S1408of FIG. 14, the Web page generation unit 503 creates a list of printersthat can be used by a user, and transmits the printer selection page1601 to the client terminal 105.

The client terminal 105 can select a desired printer from the list ofprinters usable for printing that is described in the printer selectionpage 1601. In the example of FIG. 16, the list is formed from radiobuttons and allows selecting only one printer.

When the user clicks a previous button 1602, the dialog (screen) returnsto that of FIG. 15. When the user clicks a next button 1603, a printerselection request for selecting a selected printer is transmitted to theprint server 104.

FIG. 17 is a view showing the dialog (screen) of the print setting pagefor setting a print attribute in printing according to the embodiment ofthe present invention.

A print setting page 1701 appears when the user clicks the next button1603 in FIG. 16. In step S1410 of FIG. 14, the Web page generation unit503 creates the print setting page 1701 so as to reflect selectedprinter information, and transmits it to the client terminal 105.

The print setting page 1701 contains print setting input controls inaddition to display of the printer name and current printer status.

Combo boxes 1702 and 1703 are used to select a printing method and paperfeed unit. The user can select an arbitrary printing method and paperfeed unit from lists registered in the respective combo boxes. When theuser clicks a return button 1704, the dialog (screen) returns to that ofFIG. 16. When the user clicks a print button 1705, a print settingrequest is transmitted to the print server 104.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the sequence of processing by the printserver in printer deletion processing according to the embodiment of thepresent invention.

The printer deletion processing is to delete (cancel registration)printer information managed by the printer information management unit504. In this processing, for example, the user first clicks the deletebutton 1504 of the print data list page 1501. Then, the printerselection page 1601 in FIG. 16 appears. When the user clicks the nextbutton 1603, a printer deletion request for deleting a selected printeris transmitted to the print server 104.

In step S1801, the print server 104 receives a printer deletion requestfrom the client terminal 105. In step S1802, the printer informationmanagement unit 504 deletes, from the permitted user list in printerinformation, the user ID of a user who has transmitted the request.

In step S1803, the printer information management unit 504 determineswhether the permitted user list is blank. If the printer informationmanagement unit 504 determines that the permitted user list is not blank(NO in step S1803), the process advances to step S1805. If the printerinformation management unit 504 determines that the permitted user listis blank (YES in step S1803), it deletes the printer information in stepS1804.

In step S1805, the Web page generation unit 503 generates a page inwhich a message (printer deletion completion message) that deletion ofthe printer is complete is embedded. The Web page generation unit 503transmits the page to the client terminal 105.

In this manner, the user can delete a printer registered in the printservice.

As described above, according to the embodiment, printer configurationinformation can be easily registered in a service (server) whichprovides the printing function in the Internet & thin clientenvironment, like SaaS.

The embodiment can provide a print system, a print server, a controlmethod thereof, and a program capable of easily, safely registeringprinter configuration information in a service provider in anenvironment in which a service for providing the printing function isutilized.

In the embodiment, the user authentication unit, user informationmanagement unit, Web page generation unit, printer informationmanagement unit, print data acquisition unit, print data conversionunit, and print data storage unit of the print server are arranged inone server machine. However, it is also possible to arrange these unitsin a plurality of server machines which cooperate with each other. Theload may be distributed by sharing the user information management unit,printer information management unit, and print data storage unit in ashared server and clustering the remaining units in a plurality ofserver machines.

In the embodiment, the print service manages user information andperforms user authentication. However, with the use of an externalauthentication service, the print service itself may omit the userauthentication unit and user information management unit.

Aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of asystem or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU) that reads out andexecutes a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functionsof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method, the steps ofwhich are performed by a computer of a system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing a program recorded on a memory deviceto perform the functions of the above-described embodiment(s). For thispurpose, the program is provided to the computer for example via anetwork or from a recording medium of various types serving as thememory device (e.g., computer-readable medium).

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2009-001108, filed Jan. 6, 2009, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

1.-9. (canceled)
 10. A system which is configured by a client terminalincluding a web browser, a printer, and a print server for providingprint data generated on the basis of data acquired by an externalservice to the printer, the system comprising: a reception unit adaptedto receive from the web browser included in the client terminal aregistration request for registering configuration information of theprinter to the print server; a transmission unit adapted to transmit, inresponse to reception of the registration request by said receptionunit, the configuration information of the printer associated with userinformation input via a user authentication screen transmitted from theprint server to the client terminal; and a printing unit adapted toprint data, after the print data is received, which is provided by theprint server in response to designation for causing the printer to printthe data, wherein a print setting screen of a printer selected via aprinter list is provided by the print server, after the user informationis associated with the configuration information of the printer.
 11. Thesystem according to claim 10, wherein the web browser included in theclient terminal receives an instruction for registering the printer tothe printer server, input from a user.
 12. A printer which cancommunicate with a client terminal including a web browser and a printserver for providing print data generated on the basis of data acquiredby an external service to the printer, the printer comprising: areception unit adapted to receive from the web browser included in theclient terminal a registration request for registering configurationinformation of the printer to the print server; and a transmission unitadapted to transmit, in response to reception of the registrationrequest by said reception unit, the configuration information of theprinter associated with user information input via a user authenticationscreen transmitted from the print server to the client terminal; whereina print setting screen of a printer selected via a printer list isprovided by the print server, after the user information is associatedwith the configuration information of the printer.
 13. The printeraccording to claim 12, wherein the web browser included in the clientterminal receives an instruction for registering the printer to theprinter server, input from a user.
 14. A client including a web browser,which can communicate with a printer and a print server for providingprint data generated on the basis of data acquired by an externalservice to the printer, the client comprising: a first transmission unitadapted to transmit a registration request for registering configurationinformation of the printer to the print server from the web browser tothe printer, wherein the web browser displays a user authenticationtransmitted from the print server to the client; and a secondtransmission unit adapted to transmit user information input via a userauthentication screen displayed by the web browser from the web browserto the print server; wherein the printer transmits, in response toreception of the registration request transmitted by said firsttransmission unit, the configuration information of the printerassociated with user information to the print server, and wherein aprinting setting screen of a printer selected via a printer list isprovided by the print server, after the user information transmitted bysaid second transmission unit is associated with the configurationinformation of the printer.
 15. A control method of a client including aweb browser, which can communicate with a printer and a print server forproviding print data generated on the basis of data acquired by anexternal service to the printer, the method comprising: a firsttransmission step of transmitting a registration request for registeringconfiguration information of the printer to the print server from theweb browser to the printer, wherein the web browser displays a userauthentication transmitted from the print server to the client; and asecond transmission step of transmitting user information input via auser authentication screen displayed by the web browser from the webbrowser to the print server; wherein the printer transmits, in responseto reception of the registration request transmitted in said firsttransmission step, the configuration information of the printerassociated with user information to the print server, and wherein aprinting setting screen of a printer selected via a printer list isprovided by the print server, after the user information transmitted insaid second transmission step is associated with the configurationinformation of the printer.
 16. A non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium storing, in executable form, a program for causing acomputer to a client including a web browser, which can communicate witha printer and a print server for providing print data generated on thebasis of data acquired by an external service to the printer, theprogram causing the computer to: transmit a registration request forregistering configuration information of the printer to the print serverfrom the web browser to the printer, wherein the web browser displays auser authentication transmitted from the print server to the client; andtransmit user information input via a user authentication screendisplayed by the web browser from the web browser to the print server;wherein the printer transmits, in response to reception of theregistration request, the configuration information of the printerassociated with user information to the print server, and wherein aprinting setting screen of a printer selected via a printer list isprovided by the print server, after the user information is associatedwith the configuration information of the printer.